“Certainly, the iPod is a lovely little device that has changed the way Americans buy and listen to music,” Betsy Schiffman writes for Forbes.com. “But it’s also a finicky player that requires lots of love and attention. The battery life of Apple Computer’s older iPods stinks (although the new fourth-generation models have a respectable 12-hour battery life), and iPod players, as many owners will attest, often behave like prima donnas that freeze up whenever they feel like it, and they will only decide to play again after they’ve been pampered and coddled.”
MacDailyNews Take: Okay, so the new players have 12-hour battery life (15-hours for the iPod photo) and the older ones people won’t be buying had less battery life. That’s a strike against the iPod? Keep trying Betsy. The iPod “freezes up” and is “finicky” and has to be “pampered and coddled” to play again? On which planet, exactly? We’ve had or have at least 10 iPods of different generations and 2 of them ( both 3G 40GB models) have “frozen” exactly one time each in the year+ we’ve had them. A simple push of the button and back they were, as good as new. Keep trying Betsy.
Betsy obliges, “Apple deserves the credit for creating a stylish and user-friendly MP3 player that’s accessible to mainstream consumers, but there are excellent alternatives to the iPod that may not hit your pocketbook quite as hard, and in some ways they may be superior to the iPod. The perfect case in point: Creative Labs’ Creative Zen Touch MP3 player [which offers] hard drive capacities of 20 gigabytes and go [up to] 40GB. The higher of the two has room enough for 16,000 songs, the company says. It beats the iPod with a 24-hour battery life. Unlike the iPod, it’s a sturdy little device that keeps on going until it can’t go any longer. It’s not entirely perfect, as it occasionally freezes up–just like the iPod does–but after restarting, it operates like normal without any lingering defects.”
MacDailyNews Take: So, the Zen has 20GB and 40GB models. The iPod has 20GB and 40GB and 60GB models. The Creative Zen has a “claimed” battery life of 24 hours, for those people who don’t tire of having constant music in their ears for 12-15 hours or who haven’t figured out how to buy a $19 Belkin battery pack for the iPod that takes AA batteries and extends continuous play capability for iPod beyond even the “superior” Zen. And the Creative “freezes up” just like Betsy’s obviously mistreated iPod, so how it is “superior” again? Oh, and the iPod isn’t sturdy, but the Creative Zen is supposedly “a sturdy little device?” Keep trying Betsy.
Betsy plods on, “Unfortunately, music lovers who buy tracks from iTunes won’t be able to easily transfer them to the Zen Touch player. However, the Zen Touch player is compatible with Microsoft’s file format, and music bought from the RealNetworks’ Real Music Store can be easily and seamlessly transferred to the Zen Touch from Real Player as well.”
MacDailyNews Take: So, The Creative Zen that’s supposedly “superior to the iPod” can’t utilize the world’s number one online music store, but they will be able to settle for second and third-rate online stores and can’t play the world’s de facto standard for legal online music files, AAC + FairPlay (.m4p). How’s that a “superior” experience? Keep trying, Betsy.
Betsy briefly stumbles into some common sense, “The Zen Touch is undeniably less stylish than the iPod. In fact, it looks like a cheap and brazen rip-off of the iPod, right down to the headphones with the white cord. But instead of Apple’s click wheel, it has a vertical touch pad that isn’t quite as elegant or intuitive, and the interface on the Zen Touch isn’t quite as polished.” But, sadly, Betsy returns to writing illogical gibberish, “The 20GB unit retails for about $250, while the 40GB version goes for $330, which is significantly more expensive than many small flash MP3 players on the market. Still, compared to Apple’s 20GB iPod, which retails for about $300 and its 40GB model, which goes for $400, the Zen is a relative bargain.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: So, to boil it all down, the Creative Zen is “superior” to Apple’s iPod because:
– It “freezes up” like the iPod supposedly does, although the author proves no proof to back up her dubious claim that iPods “often freeze up whenever they feel like it.”
– The older iPods that are no longer for sale had battery life that “stinks” (wouldn’t that be “stank,” since they don’t make them anymore?).
– The Zen comes with hard drives that match Apple iPods smallest and medium-sized iPods, but not the 60GB top-of-the-line
– Doesn’t work well at all with the market-dominating, easiest-to-use, and best-reviewed online music store, Apple’s iTunes Music Store.
– Can’t play the de facto standard for online music files, AAC+FairPlay (.m4p).
– The Zen is “undeniably less stylish” and “looks like a cheap and brazen rip-off of the iPod,” but with controls that aren’t “as elegant or intuitive” to access an interface that “isn’t quite as polished” as Apple’s iPod.
– People will see your Zen, wonder why you didn’t buy an iPod, and feel sorry for you.
This is a “relative bargain” next to Apple’s iPod? It that set of “superior” features worth saving $50?
Keep trying, Betsy.
Dear oh dear. It’s a desperate attempt I must say. Unfortunately, she obviously doesn’t realise, you can’t polish a turd.
What a joke. I have one of those stank 5 gig iPods and my battery after 3 years is still going strong. And now they have batteries that I can replace myself that will last 20 hours. So betsy can stick her story up her…. well you know. The iPod is a superior product and mine has never froze on me by the way in the 3 years I’ve owned it. My wife also has one and it to has not had any problems.
Where she got what she calls facts is probably from fantasy island of Dell. Nice try but there are to many iPod owners who include people who use Windows that won’t believe a word of it.
iPod minis running v1.0 sometimes freeze up and turn themselves off. If Betsy updates to v1.2, though, I can guarantee the problem will go away, and her battery life will increase too.
i wonder how much bill and rob paid this hack…
I’ve had my 3G for a year and it’s crashed twice. A simple reboot had my music back on in less than 10 seconds. The battery life hasn’t decreased at all. I still get 8+ hours per charge and I don’t think I’ve ever run it continuously for that long anyway. She’s just hoping for a Christmas bonus from Billy Bob.
I’ve used my iPod daily for several months now, and have never had it freeze or need to be coddled. Once it turned off for no apparent reason. I have no idea what this writer is talking about.
“i wonder how much bill and rob paid this hack…”
Good question – they probably bought her an iPod photo!
The letter I submitted to Betsey:
Hi Betsy;
I am sorry you were disappointed in the performance of the iPod you tested. I purchased an iPod when they were originally introduced and have since updated to a third generation iPod. In the years I have used my iPods’, and I use it everyday while jogging, I have experienced 3 skips in the music and 2 freezes. Your assumption that the iPod is “finicky” is just that, an assumption and an opinion. I do agree they require lots of love and care, but not because they are “finicky”, but because I am anal retentive and want it to look brand new for as long as I own it.
If people choose to purchase a Zen over an iPod, that’s OK, but take care that you do not exaggerate or lie. I know lie is a tough word and I do not use it as a judgment of you, but there are passages in your article that are lies, meaning they are not true. I know you are a wonderful human being and a terrific reporter, make sure you are accountable to your integrity.
I do apologize for the hate mail you receive from some Apple enthusiasts, but know that they don’t hate you, they are standing for the truth in the only way they know how to communicate. Take a stand for your integrity and the integrity of your work and you will be the journalist you aspire to be.
Happy Holidays and God Bless,
Jay
Loyal Mac User
Sheesh, the author writes a fairly objective review of the Creative box (still mentioning the iPod is the better device) and everybody has a coniption fit. Feeling insecure in your purchase and need to completely squash any perceived slight against the iPod?
It was clear in the article that the battery issues were with older iPods. And if “In fact, it looks like a cheap and brazen rip-off of the iPod, right down to the headphones with the white cord.” isn’t an indictment of the Zen, then I don’t know what else is going to please you folks.
Sheesh!
dont really think it’s a knock on other players that they cant use itunes. that’s apple being closed about it. ppl complained about sony using atrac/proprietary stuff, but apple does it and it’s okay. if someone were to make the PERFECT mp3 player, but it wasnt apple and therefore not itunes compatible, would it be less of a player? now, i love my pod. wouldnt trade it for any other player (though i am glad apple is likely to release a flash player, to play all my aac files in the gym), and i recently switched to mac, and i agree with almost everything the critique of the article mdn writes, but the fact that it cant access itunes shouldnt be a knock on the player.
Upchuck,
You are right in that when you boil down her article, she is somewhat positive on the iPod but the entire slant of the article was negative. Look at the headline and then summation. The “alternative” is better than the iPod yet she didn’t use convincing or truthful statements. The battery issue should not even be an issue since she is comparing current models and the ones that supposedly had battery issues are long out of production.
See, it isn’t a matter of pleasing us it is a matter of not trying to spoon feed us crap and calling it nutritious. She got you. Just like the other moo moos out there. READ my friend. Comprehend. Put your GED to good use.
Missed the slant,
I did read. Did anyone else?
Read this: “In fact, it looks like a cheap and brazen rip-off of the iPod, right down to the headphones with the white cord.”
Why didn’t MDN mention this quote – did they miss the slant? I think that pretty much sums up Betsy’s article. I just think everybody is reading too much into the other stuff. She clearly mentions OLDER iPods having battery issues, so I don’t see that as bias since it does apply any more (as she intimates pretty clearly).
I don’t think the other tech writers are in a conspiracy against Mac and iPod lovers. Clearly some of them are just plain wrong. But I don’t think they are all spoon-feeding us crap, either.
I don’t believe when Apple said “Think Different[ly]” they meant groupthink (I wonder if Irving Janis was featured on one of the posters).
If someone doesn’t like an Apple product, that’s OK, as long as they aren’t making up FUD to explain why. This woman makes the iPod sound as flaky as a Windows box, and that’s just not true. Her statement “…behave like prima donnas that freeze up whenever they feel like it, and they will only decide to play again after they’ve been pampered and coddled.” is complete BS. I own an iPod and I know many others who do too. No one I know has ever had any problem with their iPod, or had to “pamper or coddle” it to get it to work properly. That’s complete BS.
Also, the battery comment is completely unnecessary. That’s like saying you should buy a 2005 Kia because it has more features than a 1968 Toyota.
Now if she wanted to complain about the iPod’s headphones and how they’re uncomfortable and pop out of your ears whenever you turn your head, I’d say “go tell it on the mountain sister!”, but she’s spreading untruths. I have nothing against Creative’s products. From what I’ve seen, they’re probably the best on the market next to the iPod. But don’t lie to sell them.
Hmmm… Technology/Coolness/Music advice from an MBA(nus) greedhead magazine.
What did you expect?
Did she say the Creative Zen Experience was seamless…
Excuse me I’m still choking…
…Two Words: “Whole Widget”
“Unlike the iPod, it’s a sturdy little device that keeps on going until it can’t go any longer.”
Aaaargh! What a moronic statement is that??
So, am I a better cyclist than Lance Armstrong because I keep cycling until I can’t cycle any longer (which comes pretty soon these days)? Every device keeps going until it can’t go any longer, unless you switch it off. Got that, dummy?
hagar.. lmfao
Adam Sandler”What do people say when you find something you’ve been looking for for a long time?
‘It’s always the last place you look, isn’t it?’
OF COURSE IT’S THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOK!! WHY THE F— would you keep looking for something after you found it!”
I think it’s poignant. The iPod gives up when it still has energy?! Pffft lmfao.. retarded statement by the author haha
I am sick of hearing about the “great” battery life these other players have. Sure you can play 20 hours…at 64kbps, where it sounds like the song is being played at the bottom of a well. Play it at a decent rate (I prefer 196kbps AAC), and the battery life drops to the same range as the iPod.
I’m so sorry to say that my 1 1/2 y/o 3rdG iPod Froze for about a month until the guys at apple told me that some logical thing was damaged and it can’t be replaced, even though it didn’t fall or anything. I was really unsure about getting a 4G iPod to replace the old one but well I couldn’t resist and bought the 40 Gigs one. And a friend of mine had to return her mini because it was damaged and another friend of mine had a 4G freeze way too much and had to exchange it for a new one too. Sorry guys, but the iPod really does require too much love and affection, but stills the best option in digital music players. Just for the record I have never own anything else but a macintosh pc.
Scott, your accounts are still only anecdotal and has no bearing on the entire installed base.
I wonder why hardly anyone seems to mention in iPod-Creative comparisons the signal-to-noise ratio disparity…
[template for article]: “Betsy incorrectly says, ‘blah blah blah;’ Ha, nice try, Betsy! [other witty remark that disproves what she says in no way]”
Someone mentions the article’s anecdotal nature, and that IS true. Nevertheless, I still see hardly any evidence disproving any of her points other than basically saying, “I use iPod and think it’s better! Suck on THAT, Betsy! HAHAHA.” I mean, circle jerk all you want over the iPod — it’s a great product. But don’t crap up MDN with this silly dreck.
I have a 40 GB zen touch and I love it. I have never had an IPOD before but did research on sites like Consumer Reports to make my final choice in MP3 player. I found that zen touch had better price, battery life and even sound than the IPOD. Not saying the IPOD is junk or anything but those things led me to getting the ZEN in stead.
First of all I own the 40 GB Zen Touch and my brother owns a 3rd gen 20gb iPod. We both are very picky on music quality and would rather see a .flac based player but I digress. The point is neither of us use anything less then 192kbps mp3. There is no way you can even possibly compare battery life. They advertise 24 for the zen…id say I get closer to 20 but still better then the 10 my brother gets at most. Thats not an age old ipods here…She is right, the Zen has better battery life. I think the sound quality is about equal but he thinks the Zen’s slightly better. Though I like the iPod menus a little better. So its really a toss.
I don’t know too much about either one of those music players, but here is what I do know: I go to class with 2 friends, one owning an ipod and one owning the zen touch. Currently the zen touch is in pieces right here next to me since neither of my friends could fix it and since the 30 day warranty is barely out of date. My friend with the ipod says he has seen the error messages, but they go away without problems. His stopped working once and he sent it in to apple and got a new one priority shipped to his house after being called by a representative from apple. For the zen, we cannot reach customer service.
Though some users experience no problems with their device, both do occasionally have problems. As for having a dead zen next to you or a replaced ipod, it’s your choice. At least the hd from the zen might be recoverable though.
“Creative invented the sound”
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End of question.